Thanks, will go and have a book hunt

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I read somewhere that there is a website that you belong too, which eneables you to find ..basically a couch in someones house! There are thousands of houses signed up now.

I wish i could remember the site....:confused1:

good luck

Bruce P.

PM away. Be glad to help out. A NP tour sounds terrific. You can get a pass for national parks that will save you a little money. There's usually lots of campgrounds next to NP's if they are full or not to your liking. Do stop at the first welcome center you come to as you enter each state. (on major interstates) They'll have walls full of free maps and other information for that state.

Someone asked about inexpensive camping gear. Oh course, buy as good as you can afford. I have a good friend that is always ragging on my expensive gear and how many times he can replace his tent verses buying one like mine. His theory was shot down during a recent trip when his tent collapsed (permanently) in a thunderstorm. No tents to be found for a couple of days. I found www.sierratradingpost.com They have name brand clothing and equipment at very good deals. Usually last years model. REI also has an outlet on-line. http://www.rei.com/outlet/index.html

Best of luck.

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I'm not lost, I'm right here.
'05 650GS

Alec

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I wanna go back.

I personaly much prefer a quiet campground to the less expensive motel where the drunks rattle in at 2AM waking up the cockroaches. That is unless it has been raining for days or you happen to be the drunks.

This seems obvious ... but ... when on the road I eat at little Mom and Pop cafes, the places where the locals have been drinking their coffee for 25 years. When you pull up on a motorcycle you are their entertainment. Conversations are then easy to start. I ask, "where is the best place to camp aroung here?" You find the little spots that no one knows about or ... I have even been offered (and taken them up on) camping in people's back yards.

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Sam Jones

Alec.
BTW is your photo taking at the little campground at Goulding, Monument Valley?

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Sam Jones

Lots of things to consider. Personally, camping would be the choice for me. If inclement weather strikes, you can always get a motel room.
Camping costs are $8 - $15/night. It is hard to find a motel room under $40. In some locations during prime time (yes, August) you'll be lucky to find a motel room for under $80/night. If you happen to be in the Black Hills during the 2nd weekend of August, you'll be lucky to find a motel room for under $200/night.......due to the Sturgis Rally.

Consider the social aspect of camping. If you're traveling solo, you'll likely (at least occasionally) want to interact with others. With camping, there are no barriers to socializing. Everyone is outside.
Compare this with the walls of a motel room.

I always take my camping gear when I hit the highway. I don't camp every night, particularly if there are lightening/thunderstorms, very high winds, really cold temps, really hot temps, etc

Camping in the US has a wide range of amenities. Generally, the public campgrounds offer very little. There may be only an outhouse and a hand pump for water. There are many campgrounds a few miles from me that are operated by the National Forest. None of these have running water or electricity. Some of these may be exactly what you are looking for. Well off the beaten path, usually located on some pristine lake.
Private campgrounds also have a wide range of amenities. Nearly all of them have running water, flush toilets and a "mini store" on the premises. Many have swimming pools, whirlpools, a laundry room, a restaurant/bar, wireless internet service and the like.

Use this as a rule of thumb. Generally, the biggest campgrounds with the best facilities are located fairly close to major highways. The very scenic off the beaten path campgrounds are usually more basic in their offerings.

I really enjoy the KOA campgrounds www.koa.com as most of them have the very best of facilities. Check them out online & get one of there free campground directories.

Unfortunately, tent camping is becoming less and less popular in the US. Most campgrounds actively seek RV business moreso than tent campers. All campgrounds in this area rent out RV & pull behind trailer spots for the season. That way, they don't have to rely on the ups & downs of weather/etc to establish a good business base of income.
Just a few miles from me, a campground that has been in business for 50+ years shut there doors. They were located on some very valuable lakefront property. The campground owners walked away with $6,000,000 and the place was developed into high end condos.

I say tent camp.......while you still can! There will always be motel rooms.

It will be less expensive, you'll interact with many more people, and it will be more fun.

Sorry folks. I got the prices wrong. Badly wrong.

I went to the KOA website and punched in a nights charge for tent camping. It doesn't matter if there are 2 people or 1, the rate is the same. I saw prices in some areas up to $29/night!!! Then there will be $2 or so in sales taxes. For example, the KOA in Cody, Wyoming has this rate. Cody is a beautiful city 50 miles or so from the east entrance to Yellowstone Park. A VERY popular tourist destination with many museums/attractions/etc

A slightly less popular destination in the area just north of Yellowstone in Red Lodge, Montana has rates of $22/night plus sales tax.

Just for the heck of it, I checked the rates for tent camping at the KOA in San Diego and a 1 night stay in August is a jaw dropping $45/night + taxes close to $5!!!


So, the idiot (me) that told you camping fees were $8 - $15/night was WAAAAAAAAAAAAY off the mark. Of course, KOA campgrounds are often more expensive than there counterparts.

Hope you don't need a motel room in Cody, Wyoming, because you'll likely be dropping over $100 for a nightly stay.


My advice.......better bring 1/2 the clothing and twice the $$$$.

June-> End of July will be Route 66 with another couple and using motels (4 to a room to cut costs hopefully), so August -> mid september it will camping or couch surfing (watchout for the please for a bed and shower :-) )

The one luxury I like on a campsite is a flushing toilet :-), I can live without just about anything else, especially if there is a lake nearby

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You're right!

I'm sold on the idea... what could possibly be better.

http://www.couchsurfing.com .... or was that sarcasm ?

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The website is CouchSurfing - Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch At A Time
Great way to meet people.

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2wheelherman
http://2wheelherman.blogspot.com

Free Campsites, Free Campgrounds and Boondocking Locations

hi

plenty of free places to camp, just spent 2 1/2 months around US mostly free camping, hostels and sometimes campgrounds. someone suggested that people were reluctant to let you camp on there land although i found they were quite happy to let u but maybe thats because of the strange accent.

also just ask the locals

also anywhere in national forests is fine and sometimes theres free primitive sites but many organised areas are pay

gazz's Photos you´llsee a few of my stops

cheers

Now I am back in the right year with the thread, yes , couchsurfing. Look us up there, bdporter, you will see our US experiences (in between camping :-) )

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